Author: Emmanuel Obe

As Nigerians groan under the yoke of economic hardship and poor governance, a former President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Amaopusenibo Bobo Brown, has said the media had a duty now more than ever before to better the society in which it operates. Brown spoke last Saturday at the first reunion of former directors, management and staff of Sunray Publications Limited in Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital. Sunray Publications Limited, which published the first full colour newspapers in Nigeria, also and ran a high quality graphics and printing company in Port Harcourt between 1992 and 1998.…

Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, has promised to revive its 180 tonnes per day Rice Mill at Elele Alimini in Emohua Local Government Area of Rivers State, as part of its efforts to ensure food security in the region. The NDDC Executive Director, Projects, Sir Victor Antai, who stated this during an inspection visit to the rice mill, described the suspension of production at the factory as disheartening. A press release by NDDC Director of Corporate Affairs, Dr. Pius Ughakpoteni, said the rice mill was established as part of NDDC’s industrialisation strategies and expressed optimism that when it returns to…

As the global community commemorates the International Day of Education, a university don, Prof. Isaac Ogundu of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, has called on Nigerians and the people of the Niger Delta in particular to invest in vocational and technical education. Ogundu, who is also the dean of the Faculty of Vocational and Technical Education of the university at Ndele Campus, told National Point that society ought to invest in the type of education that would best serve the interest of its citizens and society. The International Day of Education is marked annually on January 24. The…

The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has commenced distribution of palliatives to flood victims in eight local government areas of Rivers State about five months after the floods subsided. The relief materials were packed in 24 trucks made up of 47 items, according to the Rivers State representative on the NDDC Board, Chief Tony Okocha, who presented the materials to representatives of the communities in Port Harcourt last weekend. Okocha, who said the items would help the victims to recover from their losses, pledged on behalf of the Chairman of the board of the NDDC the resolve of the commission…

Peter Jaja: Who later became known as Peter Rufai, was once a Goalkeeper of The Nigerian Tide Newspaper Football Club. The open field of GVTC, in D-Line, Aba Rd, was their training ground. David Ngodigha: Was Goalkeeper for the famous St. Pius College, (SPC) Bodo, in Ogoni, Rivers State, before playing for Sharks F. C. of Port-Harcourt. Pastor Idah Peterside: Was Goalkeeper for Sharks F. C. before been called to the National Team, from where he sojourned to South Africa, and later became a famous TV Sports Commentator, before being called to the Lord’s Pulpit. Imama Kwaku Amapakabo: Was also…

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire, DR Congo and South Africa slug it out on Wednesday in the semi-final ties to determine which two countries will play in the final in the 2024 African Cup of Nations (AFCON 2024) taking place in Cote d’Ivoire. While Nigeria takes on South Africa, hosts Cote d’Ivoire will play DR Congo in the tournament that has turned out to be the most exciting and unpredictable in the history of the Cup of Nations. To qualify for the semi-final, Nigeria beat Cameroon 1-0 in what many Nigerians celebrated as fitting revenge against a country that had twice denied…

The lingering chieftaincy crisis in Kula Kingdom in Akuku-Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State has finally been resolved at a peace meeting convened by the Chairman of Akuklu-Toru Local Government, Hon. Rowland Sekibo, and the Member of Rivers State House of Assembly representing Akuku-Toru Constituency II, Hon. Isaiah Opuende, in Port Harcourt. According to a press release by Abraham Ebini, the Special Assistant on Media and Publicity to Hon. Opuende, the meeting was the climax of the efforts to promote peace and tranquilly within the Kula Kingdom. “The historic gathering, which took place at the official residence of Hon.…

The Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, has said permanent secretaries in the state would serve as heads of their respective ministries pending when commissioners are appointed. The governor stated this on Tuesday after he swore in 16 new permanent secretaries at Government House, Port Harcourt. He warned the new permanent secretaries to resist the urge to be political in the discharge of their duties so that the civil service can operate more professionally. The governor said they were chosen not because they were lucky, but because they were found competent in their various ministries and could be trusted…

As the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited prepares to privatise the Port Harcourt Refinery at Alesa, Eleme Rivers State, a frontline indigenous petroleum products marketer and university don, Dr. Joseph Obele, has appealed to the NNPC Ltd to give consideration to only foreign investors. Obele, who was responding to the public announcement calling for interested companies to bid for the privatisation of the refinery, said indigenous bidders might be less transparent and open in their bids. He said the news of the proposed privatisation of the refinery has been received with excitement by the host communities of the refinery, who…

The management of Dangote Group last weekend declared that its refinery located in Lekki Lagos had commenced production of diesel and aviation fuel after receiving six million barrels of the Bonny Light Crude. The company also announced the appointment of seven major petroleum products marketing companies including NNPC Ltd as direct marketers of products from the refinery. But a leading petroleum products marketer, Dr. Joseph Obele, has said that the appointment of the seven marketers to lift Dangote refinery products could spell doom for the industry. Though Obele, who is also a lecturer in marketing at Ignatius Ajuru University, Port…